Philippine Airlines Flight 143: The Boeing 737-300’s First Hull Loss

Philippine Airlines Flight 143 was a domestic flight from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Iloilo International Airport (ILO). On May 11th, 1990, the Boeing 737-300 suffered an explosion in the central fuel tank and was destroyed by a subsequent fire, making it the first hull loss of a 737-300. The aircraft, registered as EI-BZG, had been delivered new to Philippine Airlines just seven months earlier, in October 1989.